Artist Profile: Beach Glass Jewelry by Susan Koch

For Susan Koch, summers spent on Galiano Island inspired a lifelong fascination with beach stones and sea glass. She incorporates these elements in her organic silver and copper jewellery. All her pieces are hand-fabricated and one of a kind. Susan studied silversmithing in Vancouver, Victoria, San Francisco, Seattle, Mendocino, and Mexico, and we are fortunate to showcase her beautiful pieces in our On The Beach building.

The magic behind these pieces is found in their history. Each glass stone requires 30 – 40 years of tumbling in the sand and surf to acquire the signature frosted look. The colours are just as important. Each colour comes from unique glasses, especially the rarer turquoises, cobalts, reds, oranges, cornflowers, and purples.

Interestingly, the purple glasses began their lives as clear glass, and pre-date the First World War. This rare colour-changing occurrence is attributed to prolonged UV exposure and the use of manganese in the glass making process – an ingredient no longer used in glass production post 1920s, making these pieces especially rare.

To view these unique pieces and others, visit our On The Beach building reception area, or visit Sue’s website at http://www.susankoch.ca